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JKUAT ENTERPRISES LIMITED
NEWSLETTER MAIDEN ISSUE
Vol ume 1, I ssue 001 Januar y- Febr uar y 2019
Taking The University to The People
Greetings JKUATES staff and friends,
It is my great pleasure to introduce our new monthly newsletter that is
poised to chronicle the progress of our company going forward. The
newsletter will contain news and images from the divisions and
departments as well as update us on relevant issues. I congratulate Eric
Nguru Gachuche on becoming the very first editor, and look to each
and every one of you to ensure that he is well informed on all
developments in your divisions. I look forward to reading this and
indeed all future editions.
Warm regards,
Dr. Winifred N Karugu
The Managing Director 's Statement
Dr. Winifred N KaruguManaging Director
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Mr.Kelvin Muoki Senior General
Manager-Commerce and Central Services
Mr.Erastus Mvuria Senior General
Manager-Products
Varsity Receives Ksh.500 million Factory
Nissin Foods Holding Company on 18th June 2018 officially handed over a multi million instant noodles factory to JKUAT in a bid to boost supply of locally flavored noodles to the Kenyan market. The facility, with a capacity to produce 9,000 packets per day (8 hrs shift), is a spin-off of the collaboration between Nissin Foods Holdings and JKUAT. Following the hand over, the
factory will now operate under the company name 'JKUAT Noodles Limited'.
JKUATES, by virtue of being the university's commercial wing, was tasked to kick start production in the facility that is located next to it's Kengo hub. Activities are underway to get the factory running with the company having just recently concluded product development and research activities using locally sourced and highly nutritious ingredients. JKUATES intends to roll out a product in the market early next year under the brand name 'Yummy Noodles'.
HANDOVER OF THE NOODLES FACTORY TO JKUAT
Former JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof. Mabel Imbuga (right) looks on as Nissin Foods Holding's General Manager Mr. Yoichi Yoshida signs the transfer of
shares document.
Welcome Back!FORMER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER MR. KELVIN MUOKI RETURNS TO SPEARHEAD COMMERCE AND CENTRAL SERVICES
The JKUAT Noodles Factory
JKUATES Management, through official communication by the Managing Director, was pleased to announce the return of Kelvin Muoki. Mr.Muoki had previously worked at the company in the capacity of Business Development Manager (BDM) and will now serve as Senior General Manager-
Commerce and Central Services. This occurs as the company undergoes restructuring from its previous flat model to a more hierarchical one, occasioned by expansion in operations and exponential growth over the years.
During his previous years as BDM , Mr. Muoki had been instrumental in fostering beneficial partnerships between the company and other key market players in the fields of ICT, consultancy and capacity building. He also also assisted the company in acquiring lucrative business lines, in the process expanding and diversifying the company's clientèle.
JKUATES fraternity is delighted to have him back and wishes him the very best as he takes up his new role.
In other news, former General Manager Mr. Erastus Mvuria has been promoted to Senior General Manager -Products. His docket includes the horticulture department, tissue cultured seedlings, the instant porridge factory, and the dairy factory. We congratulate Mr. Mvuria on his new assignment and wish him great success.
Upward Mobility!FORMER GENERAL MANAGER MR. ERASTUS MVURIA UPGRADES TO SENIOR GENERAL MANAGER-PRODUCTS
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FOUNDATION OF GERMAN INDUSTRY FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION THROUGH THEIR SENIOR EXPERT SERVICES (SES) PROGRAM SENDS EXPERTS TO JKUATES
had a chance of sampling the noodles and gave positive remarks on the same. Plans are underway to have the sensory evaluation conducted among the larger JKUAT community in the very near future.
With a growing world population, hunger and undernutrition are on the rise, and solutions such as these will help in alleviating these issues. JKUATES will greatly leverage on the works of Dr. Ralph and will use his very informative consultancy to bring to the market quality and highly nutritious noodles.
JKUATES Managing Director Dr. Winifred Karugu expressed delight in the move, sighting that it would promote more productivity and efficiency in operations. The new office block comprises of two floors comprising of offices, a board room, computer labs and training rooms. The new office location is more convenient as the company's dairy and INSPO factories are also located at the hub.
German Exper ts Visit Bear ing Goodies
JKUATES was pleased to host Dr. Ralph Thorman; a German expert in chemistry. Dr. Ralph is a member of the Senior Expert Service, Germany's leading volunteering organisation for experts and executives who are either retired or taking some time off work. The expert was in the country to offer consultancy to JKUATES on noodle ingredients formulation.
Dr. Ralph worked closely with a team of food scientists from JKUAT Noodles Limited and in the 3 weeks of his stay, eleven noodle variations were developed, all from locally sourced ingredients. One of the key noodle variations Dr. Ralph developed incorporated yellow bean flour, as a way of fortifification with extra protein, increasing the noodle's nutritional value significantly. JKUATES has conducted numerous sensory evaluation tests on the noodles to zero in on the best. The Board of Directors of JKUATES also
JKUATES Relocates To I ts Kengo Hub
On the 5th of November 2018, it was all systems go as JKUATES relocated to its new offices near Kengo gate. The much anticipated move will now see the company occupy more space, compared to its former offices which it had greatly outgrown.
The old offices were allocated to the Public Health Department of College of Health Sciences.
Despite moving into a slightly incomplete building, the company continued with its activities uninterrupted
as staff and management alike expressed great excitement about the new office. However, a few challenges have been witnessed in a small number of isolated cases during settling in, but these have largely resolved.
The move will promote
productivity and increase efficiency.
Dr. Ralph Thormann (left) receiving JKUATES memorabilia from the MD Dr.
Winifred Karugu after delivering his final presentation
Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Ngumi and Chair of Council Prof. Paul Kanyari pose with food scientists Fiona Wacera and Peter Kiiru (center) as they sample the noodles
1. Noodles Manufacturing
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(SES) program. Dr. Ehret visited to offer consultancy on extruders, and instant porridge manufacturing. During this exercise, the company's factory staff had the chance to learn a great deal from the expert on the process of extrusion. Additionally, numerous tests were undertaken using locally available raw material such as maize, sorghum, and millet. By the end of the exercise, a number of variations of extruded flour, flakes and pellets had been developed from the raw materials. Sensory evaluation tests of the samples are underway as the company gears up to take extruded products to the market. Watch this space!
Early in the month of December, JKUATES hosted yet another expert; Dr. Martin Ehret, from the German Senior Expert Service
Dr. Martin Ehret working on extruded pellets
2. Instant Porridge Manufacturing
IN BRIEF
Mary Wahira; one of JKUATES staff recently got married in a colorful wedding which was held at Marion Schools in Kahawa West. The JKUATES fraternity congratulates the newly weds and wish them a lifetime of love and happiness.
WEDDING BELLS!
The former Senator Kirinyaga County, Hon. Daniel Karaba recently paid a courtesy visit to JKUAT Enterprises Limited taking a keen interest in the variety of high-quality seedlings the company produces. The Senator and his delegation was hosted by the company?s Managing Director and fruitful discussions took place. The Senator assured the company that he would push for the purchase of seedlings by the county government for the economic and social benefit of the County.
KIRINYAGA COUNTY SENATOR PAYS JKUATES COURTESY VISIT
UASIN GISHU WOMAN REP PAYS JKUATES COURTESY VISIT
The Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Hon. Glady's Shollei recently visited JKUAT Enterprises Limited and took a keen interest in the nixtamalization technology. Talks are underway on how the technology can be transfered to the county of Uasin Gishu to improve on food security in the county; being one of the leading maize producers in the North Rift region, the country's bread basket. Nixtamalization is one of the agricultural produce value addition solutions that JKUATES offers both to individuals and institutions. The company welcomes everybody interested to learn about the technology or in deed any other form of agricultural value addition embedded in the company.
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The Mexican Ambassador to Kenya Mr. Roberto Martinez visited JKUAT to donate a maize processing machine that converts maize into tortillas through a process called nixtamalization. This involves the preparation of maize, or other grain, in which the maize is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, usually limewater, washed, and then hulled. This process significantly improves the nutritional value of the maize by making vitamins such as B3 and minerals such as calcium easy for absorption and subsequent utilization by the human body, bearing in mind the current nutritional challenges being experienced in the country and food security being one of the main agendas in the governments big 4. The machine will also promote better utilization of the maize crop culminating from the fact that Mexico has over 600 uses of the maize crop and 300 uses of the grain. On the contrary, Kenya has about 10 uses of maize. It will assist in areas affected by aflatoxins, as nixtamalization greatly reduces it.
The Mexican government donated the machine to the Kenyan government through a bilateral agreement and JKUAT was viewed as most suitable institute in the country to house the machine due to its agricultural research background and it?s fast reaching links to the Kenyan masses. The university was also viewed as an appropriate link to the various county governments in the country. The machine will be installed in the enterprise arm of the university JKUAT Enterprises limited, at the company?s industrial park at Kengo. The machine will be a small production facility and will produce basic products first, with the possibility of more complementary being brought in to enable the production of more superior products.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: NIXTAMALIZATION TECHNOLOGYMEXICAN EMBASSY DONATES MACHINE TO JKUAT IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY IN THE COUNTRY A number of JKUATES staff, and their
families have atccomplished considerable milestones and achievements in the recent past and in this regard, JKUATES fraternity would like to recognize and congratulate them on their accomplishments.
Meshack Kimondo
Meshack Kimondo; who serves in the capacity of Head of Marketing, welcomed bouncing twin boys, Victor and Zamar Muchiri. The JKUATES fraternity congratulates Mr. Kimondo and wish his family many years of good health, love, and happiness.
Br ian Maundu Kimanzi
Brian Kimanzi, the son of Susan Kimwele; a member of staff who works in the horticulture department, recently sat for his national KCPE exams and scored 405 marks out of a possible 500. Brian was schooling at Rev. Ikingi primary school and has joined Moi Forces Academy in Nairobi where he is continuing to shape his dreams of being a neurosurgeon. His mother describes him as a humble, responsible, and hardworking son. We congratulate Brian and wish him well as he continues to scale the heights of academia.
Juliana Mbinga
Juliana Mbinga works in the procurement department as a procurement assistant. On 20th October 2018, she was blessed with a bouncing boy; Nigel Wamisi. We congratulate Juliana on the safe arrival of baby Nigel and wish her a splendid time raising Nigel, filled with lots of joyous and loving memories.
Martin Muange
Congratulations are in order to the company?s head of consultancy, Martin Muange whose family was blessed with a new member; a beautiful baby girl, Ella Mbeke on the 28th of August 2018. The JKUATES fraternity wishes the Muanges all the best and continued blessings as their family grows.
STAFF NEWS!
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH PETER NDERU
1. What was your first impression of JKUATES limited?
I saw a lot of opportunities for growth especially due to the fact that the company has so many varieties of seedlings and also due to the fact that it has been able to marry both the academia and corporate worlds into one.
2. What has been your best/worst exper ience in the company? Due to the short nature of my stay in the organization, I haven?t had an experience that is way off.
3. What gets you out of bed in the morning? One of the things that gets me out of bed to come to work is the good working environment and team that JKUATES offers. Also, being able to take advantage of this opportunity to better myself and others in my own style is a major factor, in that I have the opportunity to work on my ideas in a short line.
4. What is your biggest career achievement so far?
Being part of teams that have revolutionized a number of export centers in the country.
5. What is your personal motto/mantra?
?Just Do It?. I borrow this from Nike. Most of the failures are because of the fear of breaking barriers and the consequences of trying something new. I like to ?Just Do It? and learn along the way.
6. What is your best line from a film? I stopped watching those and I do more of documentaries and news features. At the moment I have none in mind.
7. How would you descr ibe your day job in simple terms?
Using the natural resources around me as a means of getting forward.
THIS MONTH MEET PETER NDERU MUTISO,WHO RECENTLY JOINED JKUATES AND IS A HORTICULTURAL IMPORT/EXPORT MARKETS EXPERT AND A KEY PLAYER IN THE E-COMMERCE DIVISION OF THE COMPANY.
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WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, PLEASE SEND YOUR THOUGHTS, COMMENTS OR EVEN ARTICLES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE INCLUDED IN THE
NEWSLETTER TO:
A HEALTHY, HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2019!
